Strong winds fan forest fires in Nova Scotia

TORONTO (Reuters) - Strong winds fanned two forest fires
near Halifax, Nova Scotia on Saturday forcing more than 3,000
people from their homes.

A total of seven fires began on Friday on both sides of
Halifax, but firefighters managed to reduce the number of fires
to two.

The larger of the blazes is in Cole Harbour, east of
Halifax, while the other is near Tantallon, west of the city.

Thick smoke could be seen from miles away making it
difficult to determine the extent of the damage to the homes
and cottages along the coast line.

"The winds are picking up and that's what's helping the
fire. It would be great if it would turn back on its burned
area, that way it's got nothing to burn," Roy Hollett, deputy
chief of the Halifax Regional Fire Department, told CTV News.

More than 100 firefighters have been battling the flames
with the help of two waterbomber planes and several helicopters
since Friday afternoon.